History of Davidson County, Tennessee, with illustrations and biographical sketches of its prominent men and pioneers, Part 43

Author: Clayton, W. W. (W. Woodford)
Publication date: 1880
Publisher: Philadelphia, J.W. Lewis & Co.
Number of Pages: 1013

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In the action of July 22d, on the right of Atlanta, the First Tennessee struck the enemy's works squarely, and al- though suffering heavily it succeeded in carrying them and capturing a number of prisoners, thus achieving a result with one line which their opponents, under more favorable conditions, were unable to accomplish at Kenesaw with seven lines. In the subsequent siege of Atlanta it did its full share of arduous service, ending in the ill-advised attack on Sherman's fortified lines at Jonesboro'. On Hood's advance into Tennessee it participated in the capture of Dalton and the affair at Spring Hill, on the eve of the battle of Frank- lin. In this battle it was unable to overcome the main line of the enemy's works, but it maintained its advanced position all through the terrible ordeal to which it was subjected until far in the night. when the retirement of the enemy put an end to the bloody butchery. In the first day's battle at Nashville, Dec. 15, 1864, it held its works until withdrawn, late in the afternoon, to take up a new line, Cheatham's corps being transferred from the right to the left wing of the army. In the course of the second day's battle the unquenchable spirit of this regiment was finely illustrated in its recapture and maintenance of a line that had been lost on the extreme Confederate left by the giving way of a brigade. On the retreat from Tennessee it formed part of that immortal rear-guard which, by its valor at An- thony's Hill and Sugar Creek, saved the Army of Tennes- see from total destruction. Some of its members reached North Carolina in time to share in the battle of Benton- ville and see the sunlight of victory gild for the last time their tattered and war-worn banners.

COMPANIES C AND G, SECOND TENNESSEE REGIMENT.

In the Second Tennessee were two companies from David- son, C and G, commanded respectively by Captains H. I. Cheney and John Earthman. The first was from Edgefield and the other from White's Creek. The regiment was or- ganized May 6th, and was known as Bates' Second Tennes- see. It started at once for Virginia, and was mustered into the Confederate service at Lynchburg. Soon after it reached the Potomac at Aquia Creek, and assisted in the defense of the batteries at that point, being thus the first Tennessee troops to engage in active hostilities. In June it participated

in the Cane River expedition, planned to capture the Poto- mac flotilla, and assisted in the taking of three schooners. In passing from Union Mills on the right to the left of Beauregard's lines at Manassas, it sustained a heavy fire from the Federal batteries beyond Bull Run, but further than this was not seriously engaged. It assisted in erecting the batteries at Evansport, which blockaded the Potomac until the retreat on Richmond. Having re-enlisted in Feb- ruary, the men were on furlough during Johnson's retreat from Tennessee, but the battle of Shiloh being imminent, they volunteered to the number of three hundred for the occasion, and suffered terribly in the engagement of the 6th of April. On the 7th they rendered important services and participated actively in the repulse of the enemy in the afternoon at Shiloh Church, being the last regiment to leave that part of the field. Their losses in this battle amounted to thirty-nine per cent.

In the invasion of Kentucky the regiment was in the brigade of Gen. Patrick Cleburne, and marched from Knox- ville with Gen. E. Kirby Smith's column, turning Cumber- land Gap, and being actively engaged at Richmond on the 30th of August, where, in the three combats, it was almost annihilated, Capt. Newson, of Company C, being among the first victims. From this point it marched via Lexington to the vicinity of Covington, on the Ohio, and returning, was actively engaged in the battle of Perryville, October the 8th, where it had fifty wounded and none killed. In the battle of Murfreesboro', December 31st, it was actively engaged from sunrise until the middle of the afternoon, participating in six combats, the last of which was near the Nashville turnpike. Its losses in killed and wounded were severe. At Chickamauga the Second Tennessee was conspicuous for good conduct, capturing guns and prisoners in Cleburne's famous night charge. It was twice heavily engaged on the following day, its brigade (Polk's) being the first to carry the enemy's works, when it again captured guns and a number of prisoners. Its losses in this battle amounted to quite fifty per cent. In the battle of Mis- sionary Ridge it was not seriously engaged, but at Taylor's Ridge the following day it made a brilliant flank move- ment on the enemy's left at a critical moment and turned the tide of victory. In the Dalton campaign, besides al- most daily skirmishes, it was engaged at Resaca, Calhoun, Kingston (where it brought up the rear, being engaged for several hours with the advance of Sherman's army), Pump- kinvine Creek, Golgotha, and Kenesuw. After crossing the Chattahoochee the regiment was transferred to Smith's (Taylor's) brigade, Bates' division. On the 19th of July, at Peachtree Creek, the right wing of the regiment, including nearly all of Company C, was captured. It was engaged in the battle of the 22d of July and at Utoy Creek, Au- gust the 6th. At Jonesboro' it made a desperate assault on Sherman's works, but was repulsed with heavy loss. The Tennessee campaign followed, in which it fully shared, being engaged at Dalton, Decatur, Ala., Franklin, Overall's Creek, Murfreesboro', and in the last day's engagement at Nashville, where it was nearly annihilated by the fire of the enemy's batteries and the assault which followed. The remnants still clung to the fortunes of the Confederacy and followed its flag on a long weary march to the Atlantic sea-

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HISTORY OF DAVIDSON COUNTY, TENNESSEE.

board, where, on the 19th of March, 1865, at Bentonville, N. C., it again confronted its old adversary and entered into its last battle, numbering seventeen muskets. Here joining its line with that of its shattered fellow-regiments of the Army of Tennessee, it precipitated itself on the enemy's works, carrying two lines in rapid succession, and driving him in confusion for fully a mile. In the last charge Capt. W. H. Wilkerson, of Company G, fell a victim to his im- petuous valor, being probably the last sacrifice that Davidson County made to the terrible four years' war.

ACKLIN RIFLES, COMPANY "A," FOURTH (THIRTY-FOURTH) TENNESSEE.

This company was organized at Nashville, May the 7th, 1861, and joined the Fourth Tennessee, Col. W. M. Churchwell, at Nashville. It participated in the battles of Tazewell, Cumberland Gap, and Big Spring, as a part of Rains' brigade. Being transferred to Maney's brigade shortly before the battle of Murfreesboro', it remained with that or- ganization until the end of the war, being engaged at Mur- freesboro', Chickamauga, and Missionary Ridge. At the latter battle, Samuel Nicholson, of this company, had the colors of the regiment; the staff being shot in two three times in quick succession, Nicholson still held his flag aloft, though he had been shot through the body and ad- vanced until he fell. As part of Maney's brigade it par- ticipated in the battles of Resaca and Kenesaw Mountain, rendering its full share in the repulses of the assault on the Dead Angle, June 27th. It was in various engagements around Atlanta, including Jonesboro', being successful in capturing a line of works on the 22d of July. In the Tennessee campaign it was at the capture of Dalton, and was heavily engaged at Franklin. At Nashville it fought on the right on the first day, and on the left on the second day, where it was subjected to a heavy fire of the enemy's batteries. It formed part of the rear-guard on the retreat, allusion to which has already been made. It ended a career of most honorable services without a tarnish in the surren- der at Greensboro'.

COMPANIES IN THE TENTH TENNESSEE.

Davidson County was more numerously represented in the Tenth Tennessee than any of its organizations, its com- pliment in this regiment being eight full companies. It was familiarly known as the " Irish Regiment" on account of its heavy per cent. of men of this nationality, and it may be proper to add that it gloriously sustained the reputation of the Emerald Isle for steady and shining courage. At its organization two of its field-officers were from Davidson,- Col. Adolph Heiman and Lieut .- Col. Randal W. McGavock. Soon after entering into service it was sent to erect de- fenses on the Cumberland and Tennessee Rivers, and the works at Fort Henry and Heiman, on the latter river, were principally the results of its labors. In the attack on Fort Henry by Commodore Foote's fleet all their previous labor was rendered nugatory by a series of disasters to the guns in the fort, which resulted in its surrender. The regiment escaped to Fort Donelson, where ten days later it was in- cluded in the surrender of the place, after having rendered the most signal services. On its return from prison it was

reorganized at Clinton, Miss., in the autumn of 1862, re- taining the same field-officers.

Soon after, Col. Heiman died, and Lieut .- Col. McGav- ock was elected to the vacancy. The regiment, after a tour to Coldwater, went to Vicksburg, and thence to Port Hud- son. As part of Gregg's brigade it bore a conspicuous and bloody part in the battle of Raymond, Miss., on the 12th of May, 1863, where less than three thousand Confederates held their ground for ten hours against five times their number .* After participating in the movements of Gen. Johnson for the relief of Vicksburg, it joined Bragg's army in September, in time to be actively engaged in the two days' battle of Chickamauga, where its brigade, in conjunc. tion with Fulton's (Bushrod Johnson's), was the first to break the massive lines of the enemy on the left on Sunday morning. Its losses were again heavy. Being soon after transferred to Bates' brigade, afterwards Tyler's and then Smith's, it played a conspicuous part in the battle of Mis- sionary Ridge, where this brigade received the credit from Gen. Bragg of saving the Army of Tennessee by its daunt- less bearing in covering the retreat across the Chicka- mauga. In the Dalton campaign it was engaged at Rocky Face, Resaca, Dallas, Kenesaw, the opening battles around Atlanta, at Utoy Creek, and Jonesboro'. Its after-history may be traced in the account already given of the compa- nies in the Second Tennessee.

COMPANIES IN THE ELEVENTH TENNESSEE (COL. J. E. RAINS).

Davidson furnished three companies to the Eleventh Tennessee; namely, the Hermitage Guards, Capt. J. E. Rains, the Beauregard Light Infantry, Capt. S. C. God- shall, and the Cheatham Rifles, Capt. J. R. McCown. This regiment, though carly in the service and in the discharge of active and important duties in East Tennessee, first came under fire at the battle of Tazewell, Aug. 6, 1862; soon after it was engaged in prosecuting the siege of Cumber- land Gap, on the evacuation of which it advanced as far as Frankfort, Ky., and from this point covered, via Harrods- burg, Bragg's retreat from that State, during which it had several affairs with the enemy. At Murfreesboro' it fought in Mccown's division, where it was continuously engaged until late in the afternoon, and acquitted itself with great credit, having captured a battery at the first onslaught. In its last combat, near the Murfreesboro' pike, Gen. James E. Rains was instantly killed, falling in the midst of the regiment he had so long commanded. After this battle the Eleventh Tennessee became a part of Gen. Preston Smith's brigade, with which it remained for the rest of the war. At the battle of Chickamauga it took an active part in the night attack on the 19th of September, by which important positions were won, and on the 20th joined in the charge late in the afternoon which swept Thomas' corps from the field. At Missionary Ridge it was not heavily engaged. In the Dalton campaign its brigade held Resaca against a heavy force until the main army came upon the ground. At Kenesaw Mountain it held the right limb of the " Dead

* Col. MeGavock fell in the thickest of the fight, while handling bis regiment with superb skill.

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THE COMPANIES IN THE FIRST TENNESSEE REGIMENT, ETC.

Angle" against the assault on the 27th of June, repulsing seven lines. The fighting here was almost hand to hand, and the slaughter of the assailants was sickening to con- template at the end of the assault. In the battle of the 22d of July it drove the enemy out of his works, but was unable to hold them on account of the severe enfilade fire to which it was exposed. In the rest of this campaign, end- ing at Jonesboro', it was actively and continuously engaged. In the battle of Franklin it held the ditch of the main line of the enemy's works until he retreated, being unable on account of its losses to possess them entirely. In the first day's battle at Nashville it held its ground against all attacks, and on the second was not called upon to resist any direct attack, but was under a heavy fire of artillery and small-arms for the greater part of the day. It failed to reach North Carolina in time to take part in the battle of Bentonville, and ended its carcer of service to the Confed- eracy in the surrender at Greensboro'.

COMPANY G, EIGHTEENTH TENNESSEE (COL. J. B. PALMER).

This was the company of Capt. A. J. McWhirter, being principally made up in Edgefield. The regiment first saw service in the trying scenes of Fort Donelson, in which it fully participated and suffered. On its return from prison it became part of Palmer's brigade, and shared in the des- perate charge and repulse of Breckenridge's division, on the 2d of January, 1863, at Murfreesboro'. As part of Brown's brigade it fought in the centre at Chickamauga, losing heavily. It came out of the fiery furnace of Mis- sionary Ridge without tarnish. In the Dalton campaign it was engaged at Rocky Face, Resaca, New Hope Church, Dallas (where it suffered heavily), Kenesaw, in the open- ing battles around Atlanta, in the sortie of the 28th of July, and at Jonesboro'. In Hood's Tennessee campaign it bore its part in the ill-starred assault at Franklin, and was shortly after engaged in the second battle of Murfreesboro'. It formed part of the rear-guard in the retreat from Ten- nessee, and, following the fortunes of the Confederacy to North Carolina, covered itself with immortal glory at Bentonville, where, in connection with other regiments of Palmer's brigade, it broke through line after line of Sher- man's army, capturing hundreds of prisoners and wagons, and returning in safety after a five days' absence in his rear.

COMPANIES IN THE TWENTIETH TENNESSEE (COL. JOEL A. BATTLE).

In this regiment were three full companies from David- son, viz , Capts. J. L. Rice's, W. L. Foster's, and T. F. Dodson's, and a very respectable portion of Capt. Joel A. Battle's company from Williamson. This regiment early saw service in the brigade of Gen. Felix K. Zollicoffer in Southeastern Kentucky, firing its first gun at Barboursville. Soon after it was in the affair at Wild Cat. On the 19th of January, 1862, in connection with the Fifteenth Mis- sissippi, it bore the brunt of the battle at Fishing Creek, and acquitted itself with distinguished honor, but suffered a heavy loss. At Shiloh it was constantly engaged for two days, and again suffered heavily. It took part in the de-

fense of Vicksburg against the first bombardment, in June, 1862, going thence on the expedition to Baton Rouge, La., where on the 5th of August the forces under Breckenridge won a brilliant but partial success. At the battle of Mur- freesboro' it did not become actually engaged until the 2d of January, when its impetuous valor carried it deeply into the opposing ranks, out of which it came at a fearful sac- rifice. On June 24, 1863, it contended with great odds at Hoover's Gap, now forming part of Bates' brigade. At Chickamauga it was heavily engaged, particularly on the last day, where the enemy's centre was broken. At Mis- sionary Ridge its brigade repulsed line after line, and only yielded its ground to a flank attack, and then not in dismay, for it rallied at the foot of the ridge and presented an unbroken front to the enemy until Bragg's army was safe beyond the Chickamauga. In the Dalton campaign it was engaged at Rocky Face, Resaca, Dallas, Kenesaw, the open- ing battles at Atlanta, at Utoy Creek, where it repulsed on the 6th of August a determined attack on its line and cap- tured three stands of colors, and at Jonesboro', where it made a desperate effort to retrieve the fortunes of the day in a bold attack upon a very strong position. In the Ten- nessee campaign it was engaged at Buzzard Roost, Ga., Decatur, Franklin, Overall's Creek, Murfreesboro', and Nashville, at which latter place it occupied the angle in Hood's line, of which mention has been made in another connection. It fought its last battle at Bentonville, N. C., when the setting sun of the Army of Tennessee came forth from the cloud and blazed in its most effulgent glory as it sank out of sight forever.

One of the most pleasing episodes in the history of the Twentieth Tennessee, and which should have been men- tioned in its proper place, was its presentation with a flag made of the wedding-dress of Mrs. Gen. Breckenridge, at Tullahoma, in the spring of 1863. She desired it to be given to the bravest regiment in her husband's division, and this one was selected as the proper recipient of the distin- guished honor.

[COMPANY G, FIFTIETH TENNESSEE.

This company was partly raised in Davidson, twenty-five of its members, including its captain, Wills Gould, and its third lieutenant, Samuel Mays, Jr., being from this county. This regiment performed garrison duty at Fort Donelson during the operations against that place, and was included in the surrender. On its exchange it reorganized at Clin- ton, Miss., and became a part of Gregg's brigade. It was present at Sherman's attack on Chickasaw Bayou, and after passing through the bombardment of Port Hudson it ren- dered a valorous part on the hard-fought field of Raymond. As has been mentioned in connection with the history of the Tenth Tennessee, Gregg's brigade was actively engaged at Chickamauga on both days, and as part of Bushrod Johnson's division rendered most signal service in breaking 'Rosecrans' right wing at an early hour on the 20th. After this battle it became a part of Maney's brigade, and was badly cut up in a daring charge on Sherman's lines at Mis- sionary Ridge. Its subsequent history is that of Mancy's brigade, an account of which has already been given in a notice of the First Tennessee.

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HISTORY OF DAVIDSON COUNTY, TENNESSEE.

IN THE FIFTY-FIFTH TENNESSEE.

In the Fifty-fifth Tennessee this county had one com- pany, that of Capt. Wyley M. Recd. It had its baptism of fire in the terrible two days' contest at Shiloh, April 6th and 7th. Shortly afterwards the regiment was consolidated with the Forty-fourth Tennessee, and became a part of the brigade of Gen. Bushrod R. Johnson. It was heavily en- gaged at Perryville, Ky., Oct. 8, 1862, and at Murfrees- boro', on the 31st of December following, it bore a conspic- uous part in the action of Cleburne's division, having the honor, besides capturing guns, of penetrating deeper into the position of the enemy on the Murfreesboro' and Nash- ville pike than any body of troops engaged. At Hoover's Gap it contended all day against the heavy odds of Rose- crans' advance, and on Bragg's retreat from Tennessee had a sharp affair at Elk River. At Chickamauga, Johnson's brigade led the advance in crossing the river on the 18th of September, and on the 19th rendered important service in resisting a heavy attack, and, by an impetuous advance, in gaining over a mile of ground. On the 20th, in con- nection with Bragg's brigade, it was the first to make a decided impression on Rosecrans' heavy lines, capturing a battalion of artillery in an eager emulation with Longstreet's veterans of the Army of Northern Virginia. This brigade went with this officer on the campaign into East Tennessee, being engaged at Knoxville, Bean's Station, and other points during the succeeding winter. In the spring of 1864 it reached Petersburg, Va., in time to render most vital ser- vice at Walthall Junction, Drury's Bluff, and Swift Creek. In Grant's advance upon Petersburg it made such obstinate resistance that Lee's army was enabled to reach that city in time to save it from immediate capture, but at the cost of over fifty per cent. of its number. It was in the immedi- ate vicinity of the mine explosion at Petersburg, Va., and by its steady courage at a critical moment contributed greatly to the safety of the lines at that point. On the 29th of September, 1864, by the exhibition of most shin- ing valor at Fort Gilmor, on the James River, it undoubt- edly saved Richmond from capture. When Lee's lines were broken at Petersburg, it held its portion of the line to the last moment, repelling every assault made upon the fort and recapturing works lost by others. It laid down its arms at Appomattox, thus completing a long career of bril- liant service on a widely-extended field.

COMPANIES IN THE FIRST TENNESSEE CAV- ALRY (COL. JAMES WHEELER).

In this regiment were two companies from Davidson,- the Barron Guards (Company C), Capt. E. E. Buchanan, and Company -, Capt. Ensly. They first came under fire as part of Gordon's battalion at Eastport, on the Ten- nessee River, in March, 1862, in an engagement with gun- boats, where by their firm resistance they prevented a land- ing, though exposed for hours to the fire of heavy guns. They rendered a similar service a little later at Yellow Creek, and during the battle of Shiloh formed a corps of observation beyond Lick Creek. They were next engaged at Farmington. Soon after Gordon's and Biffle's battalions were united, forming the First Tennessee Cavalry, of which Biffle became colonel, who was shortly succeeded by Col.

James Wheeler. In August this regiment made a raid into West Tennessee in the brigade of Gen. Frank Arm- strong, and was engaged at Medon Station, Bolivar, and Britton's Lane, at which latter place the two Davidson County companies charged and captured two pieces of artillery. It was heavily engaged at Iuka, and brought on the attack at Corinth, Oct. 3, 1862. In the retreat from this place it performed important service as rear-guard, and fought at Coffeeville, Miss. It participated in Van Dorn's expedition in Gen. Grant's rear, and was engaged at Holly Springs and Davis' Mills in December, 1862. It was engaged in the brilliant affairs of Thompson's Station and Brentwood, and was in action at Douglass' Church and Rover.

In the great battle of Chickamauga and the subsequent pursuit it took an active part and rendered important ser- vice. Shortly after it was engaged in several affairs in Sweetwater Valley and at Strawberry Plains. During Wheeler's raid into Tennessee it bore a leading part, being engaged at McMinnville, Farmington, and other places. It also shared in the hard winter campaign of Gen. Wheeler in East Tennessee. In the Dalton campaign it was con- tinuously engaged. Company C, Capt. Thomas B. Wilson, being detached as escort to Maj .- Gen. Stevenson, acted from that time on with his division. It was in Hood's cam- paign into Tennessee, and was engaged at Nashville and in covering the retreat. The other company took an active part in the pursuit and dispersion of McCook's Cavalry at Newnan, Ga. The regiment composed a part of Gen. Wheeler's force on his raid into Northern Georgia and Ten- nessee, having numerous conflicts, and also took part in Forrest's raid shortly after, which resulted in the capture of Athens and Sulphur Trestle. On Sherman's march to Savannah it had frequent affairs with infantry and cavalry, the most notable of which were at Buckhead, Waynesboro', and Savannah. In the campaign through the Carolinas it found constant employment retarding Sherman's advance. At Fayetteville, N. C., it distinguished itself in a bloody affair with a largely superior force of infantry. It fought also at Averysboro', Bentonville, and at Patterson's Mill, near Chapel Hill, where it fired its last shot, April 15, 1865.

COMPANIES IN THE SECOND TENNESSEE CAV- ALRY (COL. BARTEAU).

Davidson furnished three companies to this regiment, namely, Capts. F. N. McNairy's, E. D. Payne's, and W. L. Harris'. They first entered the organization known as the First Tennessee Cavalry Battalion, of which Capt. F. N. McNairy was elected lieutenant-colonel, First Lieut. W. Hooper Harris succeeding to the command of his com- pany. For the first year of the war this battalion operated with the forces under Gen. Zollicoffer, on the Upper Cum- berland, taking part in the Wild Cat and other affairs in Kentucky. On the retreat from Tennessee in 1862 it operated along the Tennessee, previous to the battle of Shiloh, watching the movements of Grant's forces, and having several collisions with his advance, particularly at Pittsburg Landing. On the retreat from Corinth it had a brisk action with a Federal raiding column at Booneville,

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History of Davidson County, Tennessee, with illustrations and biographical sketches of its prominent men and pioneers, Part 43

Author: Clayton, W. W. (W. Woodford) Publication date: 1880 Publisher: Philadelphia, J.W. Lewis & Co. Number of Pages: 1013

Author: Clayton, W. W. (W. Woodford)
Publication date: 1880
Publisher: Philadelphia, J.W. Lewis & Co.
Number of Pages: 1013